City comparison
No. Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 221 in Toledo, and its violent crime index is 127 versus 279, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $1,171 in Huntsville.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Toledo and Huntsville. Toledo averages 51°F while Huntsville averages 63°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $934 versus $1,171.
Huntsville is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Toledo makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Huntsville is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Toledo at $934 average has pockets that run $734 and others at $1,334: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Toledo and Huntsville are 506 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, up $237 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $74,714 in Huntsville, up $12,490 (20%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 134 in Huntsville, down 87 points (39%).
The move
Huntsville and Toledo are 506 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $934 a month in Toledo, down $237 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $62,224 in Toledo, down $12,490 (17%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 221 in Toledo, up 87 points (65%).
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Huntsville, AL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Toledo and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Toledo rent is 20% cheaper than Huntsville
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Huntsville
$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $1,171 in Huntsville, so Toledo is 20% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,844, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Toledo still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Huntsville.
Planning to buy in Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
20% higher
Huntsville's median income is 20% higher than Toledo
Toledo
$62,224
Huntsville
Winner$74,714
Median household income is $74,714 in Huntsville versus $62,224 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Huntsville (about $12,490 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Huntsville is the stronger labor market on paper. Toledo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
39% lower crime
Huntsville's crime index is 39% lower than Toledo
Toledo
221 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
Winner134 (100 = avg)
Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 221 in Toledo (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% lower in Huntsville. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Huntsville is the easier city. Toledo can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
54% more comfortable
Huntsville weather is 54% more comfortable than Toledo
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Huntsville
Winner63°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 94/100
Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs); Huntsville averages about 63°F (74°F highs). Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Huntsville averages around 63°F. Huntsville scores 54% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Toledo if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Toledo
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 20% higher ($74,714), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 63°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Huntsville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 39% lower than Toledo (134 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Toledo carries the heavier crime signal on this page (36/100 safety vs 51/100 in Huntsville). That 15-point spread matters more than the $237 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (51/100 in Huntsville vs 36/100 in Toledo), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $934 in Toledo and $1,171 in Huntsville.
Huntsville clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Toledo deserves a serious look only when you already know the Toledo block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Toledo and Huntsville, plus other cities in OH and AL.
